"And it's all down to our dedicated volunteers and the
generosity of New Zealanders."

Ms Manson says that over
15,500 people nationwide volunteered their time to help with
this year's Blind Week appeal.

"Many of these
collectors were also out pounding the pavements during the
Guide Dog appeal in April and often will help out with other
ongoing events and services throughout the year.

"The
Foundation is extremely lucky to have this level of
commitment from the community."

The money raised from
the appeal means the Foundation can continue to provide
essential services such as orientation and mobility,
techniques of daily living, and talking and braille books to
the 12,500 blind and sight-impaired New Zealanders.

The
doorknock and street appeal raised:Auckland and
Northland $133,780Waikato $63,916Bay of Plenty and
Coromandel $58,329Hawkes Bay $26,739Taranaki,
Manawatu and Wellington $98,990Nelson and Marlborough
$28,003Canterbury and the Westcoast $89,834Otago and
Southland $101,607

Total $601,198

The Foundation
also received $320,262 from the Blind Week national direct
mail and $134,863 from the letterbox collection envelope
drop. It costs the Foundation for the Blind $19.7
million to provide essential services to blind and
sight-impaired New Zealanders. The Foundation receives
limited government and needs to raise $12 million annually
through
donations.

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